Pushover Ch. 06

"If it helps, I didn't have much fun tonight either. I was kind of feeling the same way."

"I know, right? It was so... Mechanical." Her head fell to her headrest with a quiet clunk. "I'm done. I don't care what they offer, I'm just not interested."

"Won't hear me complain." Rick was smiling as he turned the car on. They drove in silence for a few minutes. "This is definitely different than our other drives back."

"I know. I'm not feeling terribly sexy. Sorry."

"It's okay babe, we don't have to do anything."

Daisy grumped to herself quietly, bringing a questioning look from Rick.

"I was looking forward to having a threesome with you. It was supposed to be fun."

"Well we'll just have to make sure our next one is great, obviously," Rick joked as they pulled onto her street. She elbowed his side with a laugh as they stopped in front of her place.

"I still want to sleep with you tonight," Daisy said, leaning close. "Seriously, I need a cuddle-buddy."

Rick laughed, but couldn't think of anything he'd rather do.

"Sure Daze," Rick said as he opened his door. "Is Lilly..."

"Cuddling's quiet," Daisy said as she kissed his jaw. "Besides, you gotta take a shower before I'll even think about touching your dick again."

Rick could barely roll out of his car he was laughing so hard.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You and you," Rick said, pointing to two cute, underdressed girls. They zipped forward, getting ahead of the line and into the club.

"C'mon man! We've been waiting out here for like an hour!"

"Yes you have. Patience is a virtue," Rick said solemnly, consulting his clipboard as if there was something important on it. With the two girls he just sent in he could probably let these guys in now, but he decided to let them stew for another few minutes.

"Sup Rick! How you doing?" Paul asked as he appeared in front of Rick like some sort of apparition.

"Hey, how's it going," Rick said as he shook Paul's hand, a little thrown off. "Not too bad, decided to hit the scene tonight, y'know?"

"Sure man, I gotcha."

"Think I can get a table in VIP?" Paul asked, his eyebrow raised.

If Paul was out for a night of clubbing, he didn't really show it. He looked about the same as when Rick met him at Daisy's first shoot: loose shorts and a wife-beater, his somewhat gangly frame on full display. His two male companions weren't doing much better, with one of them actually wearing crocs out of the house. Eden was all about style, class and exclusivity, and crocs were about as far from that as a person could get. Typically, Rick would show guys dressed like this back to the street.

But he was also in the company of six of the hottest women Rick had seen that night. All were dressed to thrill, with everything from thin, cut-away t-shirts and leggings to skin tight rubber dresses. Paul's date was the best, an adorable curly-haired brunette wearing a tightly packed sports bra and a pair of overalls, and apparently nothing else. The overall effect was somehow both innocent and terribly sexy.

"I think I can make that happen." Rick said while signaling Jose. "Do me a favor and get your girls to do a little dancing in there? I think y'all could set it off."

"Oh don't worry man. We're here to party," Paul said as he patted his pocket. Rick didn't get it until he noticed Paul's bloodshot eyes. Rick had to grin: He was supposed to throw anyone using drugs out of the club, but VIPs did get a certain level of consideration.

"Good to know." When Jose came over, Rick whispered in his ear: "Table three in VIP. Give him a bottle of Skyy on the house."

"Got it."

"You're all set. I'll stop by later on," Rick said, opening the rope and allowing Paul's party in.

"Rick?" Rick was surprised as Sally appeared at his elbow. Looking around, Rick realized that Sally had been amongst Paul's party, but he hadn't really noticed her amongst the barely dressed porn starlets.

"Hey Sal, what's up?" Rick hadn't had much of a chance to speak with Sally at the shoot, and hoped that she wasn't going to try and get him to convince Daisy to keep working with them.

"I didn't want to mention it the other night but, uh... I just wanted to apologize for blabbing to Daisy like I did. I'm not like that, usually... I thought I was looking out for her."

"Oh that? It's okay. You were just trying to be her friend, I get it."

"And I also wanted to let you know that I've got a contract for you."

"Sal, I don't want to do any more work as a... performer," Rick said, uncomfortable to be talking about this at his day job. As it were.

"No! Not for that. Daisy said you were looking for some security freelancing? I've been looking to get someone on contract for a while now. We need security help all the fucking time! We've been doing it sort of a piecemeal, but I was hoping we could come to some sort of formalized plan?"

"But I... I was talking to Paul about that?"

"Paul?" Sally asked, laughing. "Paul doesn't work with that stuff. He's our creative director. I'm the general manager."

"Oh. I see."

"You would have found that information useful I guess."

"Sorry," Rick said, feeling like he had stepped in it.

"Don't sweat it. Here," she said, handing him an envelope. "I'll see you in there at some point?"

"Sure, sure, Daisy's at the bar, go say hi!" Rick was smiling, playing it cool, but inside he was freaking out. He had a few possible clients lined up, but this had the makings of a fantastic account. As soon as Sally was out of sight he was flipping open the paperwork. The pay rates she was suggesting were enough to raise his eyebrows.

Rick's walkie chirped: someone wanted to talk to him.

"Yeah?"

"Holy shit did you see the girls that came in? They just hit the dance floor. Ay yi yi!" Marco called out.

"Take it easy in there, those are friends of mine."

"Oh. Oh! Got it boss."

As he handed off door duties so he could take a quick break to look at this contract, Rick couldn't help but smile. Boss. That sounded nice. And it was closer than ever.

"You three: Get in there," Rick said, indicating the guys he had made wait before. With all of Paul's girls flooding the dance floor they needed some guys in there stat.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"One more!"

"Daze, c'mon, it's almost one in the morning."

"We've only got two more to go! C'mon, you know you got me hooked," she pleaded, her fingers at his side.

"If you really want to, sure. But you only have two episodes left, though. You sure you want to rush through them like this?"

"But you said there was a movie too!" She was already starting up the next episode when Rick's cell phone rang. Rick looked and saw that it was his sister.

"Hey Kate, what's wrong?"

"Rick, I never thought I'd have to fucking ask you this."

"Ask me what? What's the matter?" he asked, becoming concerned.

"Are you in porn?"

"Oh, um." Rick was surprised at the sudden relief he felt: It couldn't get much worse than you're sister finding out you're in porn. Rick wondered at the right way to field that question, but it seemed Kate already knew the truth. "Would it help if I told you I'm retired?"

"Jesus Christ Rick have you lost your fucking mind? Fucking Internet porn? Seriously? Dad's gonna have a stroke. What happened to that girl Holly? She was so nice! I mean maybe she wasn't a goddamn porn star but-"

"Kate, I-"

"And you can't even warn me? I've got to find that shit out from my husband?! Luke says he's gotta show me something, and it's a video of you boning some slut! What on earth was-"

"Rick! Nicely done," Luke laughed into the phone, picking up on another extension in the house. "I know I shouldn't have told her but I couldn't help it! Katie you've gotta calm down!"

"It's okay Luke I-"

"Luke get off the damn phone!!" Kate screamed, and Rick couldn't help but laugh.

"What happened?" Daisy asked, taking the laughter as a good sign.

"Kate found out about my part time job."

"Oh. Oh! Oh jeez. Want me to talk to her?"

"Do I want what? Hey!" But before he could stop her she had his phone in her hand and was talking to his sister. The one who just called her a slut.

"Hello? Hi. My name's Daisy. I've been dating your brother. Yes that was me. I don't know, maybe three months now?" She said this to Rick, who nodded. "Uh huh. No I'm not seeing anyone else. Hello? Hi Luke, I've... Glad you liked it! I-" Daisy pulled the phone away from her ear as Kate yelled at her husband again. "Kate? Hi. I'm sorry we met this way, but my name is Daisy Shaw. Uh, right. Same person, that's just my stage name. No, it's okay. I work with Rick at the club. Yeah."

"Can I get that---"

"We're just watching a DVD, it's okay. This show Firefly? No it's pretty good, actually. How's Syracuse? Yikes. I left Brooklyn to get away from the cold so... a year or two now? No, no, I live with my sister." Daisy got up from the couch and wandered off to the bedroom, chatting amiably as she entered Rick's bedroom and closed the door behind her.

"Well that can't be good," Rick muttered, stewing for a second before grabbing his laptop and flipping it open. The latest draft of his business plan was already open, and he went over it for what felt like the billionth time, trying to see where it still needed improvement.

He had tried to touch on his high points: experience, including management of a large security operation, good personnel, and being a martial arts instructor he could train all the staff guaranteeing skilled, capable personnel. That, combined with initial low overhead, meant he should be able to be up and profitable within short order. Rick nodded, more or less happy with what he had written. Rick had spent the past week or so polishing it up, but for all his work he had no idea if it was any good or not, having never written one before. He was going to show it to Daisy, but he had wanted to make sure it was perfect before he did that.

And now she's on the phone talking to my sister. Katie was great, but she was always pretty protective of him, especially after their mom passed. He knew that Daisy was probably getting the third degree, and wondered what in the world they were talking about. After a few moments of stewing, Rick snapped out of it and turned the xbox off, switching to some late night TV to distract himself.

It was nearly forty minutes later that Daisy reemerged, still speaking to Kate.

"No, I insist. Lilly can babysit! You'll pay her, right?" This was said with a laugh, getting worse at whatever Kate was saying. "Yeah she's cheap, don't worry. I know! Okay, yes, I'll see you then. Buh-bye." Daisy hung up and tossed Rick's phone back to him.

"What was all that? And she didn't want to talk to me?"

"Not once she had me on the phone. Apparently you tend to keep her away from your girlfriends?"

"She can get a little protective." Rick considered his words. "Which is to say she can become monstrously nosey. I think she feels like she has to fill in for mom."

"What do you mean?"

"Bug me about when I'm gonna settle down and get married."

"Ah." Daisy climbed over the back of the couch and settled in his lap. "Well, she was a little surprised to see video of you getting sucked off on the Internet. Apparently she thought this was very out of character for you. I assured her you made the decision of your own volition."

"Said it just like that, huh?"

"I think I might have said it didn't take too much work to seduce you."

"What'd you tell her?"

"How we got together, where I'm from, stuff like that."

"You told her how we got together? The truth? With the porn and everything?"

"Well she knew I filmed a scene with someone other than you anyway. It's okay!" she said firmly off of Rick's look, touching his chest gently. "She laughed, don't worry. Kate's great, I can't wait to meet her."

"Yeah, what was that about?"

"They wanted to visit you anyway, what with it getting so cold up there. They were just worried about what they'd do with their kids, and I told them Lilly would take care of them and the grownups could enjoy themselves."

"I see..."

"Nervous?"

"A bit. Kate managed to scare off a few girls in high school. And one in college."

"She's gotta take care of you. You're her little brother!"
"I weigh literally more than twice as much as her, you know."

"She's just looking out for you. Although she liked this Holly she last met." This was said with raised eyebrows.

"Ugh. That was her last visit about a year ago."

"She didn't scare her off too did she?"

Rick had to laugh. "No, no. She loved Holly. Thought she was so decent and special."

"And I take it she wasn't those things?"

"Holly was totally crazy! Possessive like I've never seen! I caught her going through my text messages! And you know, she was so sweet and decent, she was the girl who loved it up the ass!"

"Well, y'know, crazy in the head, crazy in bed."

"Then how come you aren't crazy?" Rick asked as he wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm just the exception that proves the rule," Daisy said, her grin broad. "Or maybe I am and you don't know it."

"A girl's got to be a little crazy to do porn," Rick teased

"Then there are a lot of crazy girls out there, huh?" Daisy gave right back, her eyebrow arched. "And how crazy are you to have joined me in front of the camera, hm?"

"Pretty crazy. About you."

Daisy's grin turned into a cute little smile, which Rick kissed. "Take me to bed."

"I thought you wanted more Firefly?"

"I did, now I want you."

And then they were kissing. This wasn't the bruising kisses that they usually shared before sex. These were soft, sucking, playful, their tongues fighting over space as their hands gently stroked along arms and sides. When Daisy pulled his shirt off, Rick returned the favor, cupping her perfect breasts in his hands, her nipples like hard pebbles.

"I thought you wanted to go to bed?" Rick asked as Daisy's hands met at his belt, working his pants off.

"Like I said, I want you. Here's as good as anywhere else," Daisy said as she roughly jerked his pants down, his cock flopping back against his belly.

"You've got a point," Rick said as she pulled the crotch of her shorts to the side.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"You ready?" Rick asked as he hit the bar. Eden after closing always looked a bit like a warzone: trash all over, hundreds of empty glasses and bottles taking up every available surface. Occasionally you'd find condom wrappers or panties on the floor, but that was more of a rarity and earned you a shot.

"Getting there. Five more minutes?" Daisy said as she drained another bar mat into the sink.

"Hey Rick! Daisy! Stevie wants to talk to you guys," Alexis shouted from across the empty club, pointing with her thumb up to Stevie's office. Rick and Daisy shared a look, not sure what to make of this. They walked over and climbed the stairs to the club owner's elevated office.

"Rick, Daisy, close the door please," Stevie said as he put aside some paperwork and took his glasses off. "Have a seat."

"Something the matter boss?" Rick risked.

"It's come to my attention that you two are seeing each other?"

"Um."

"Uh."

"Well, I mean obviously, right?" Stevie said as he turned his monitor so they could see it. The Slambros webpage was familiar to both of them, and Daisy Duke looked down at them with her dark, sultry eyes. Along the bottom of the screen was a series of thumbnails of Daisy and Rick in various stages of fucking the hell out of each other. Their threesome scene with Marie had been on the site for a few weeks now, but it being her most recent scene, a teaser for it was playing on the page. At least Stevie had turned the sound off so they weren't forced to hear themselves fucking as their boss looked on.

Rick slumped back a little. So there is something worse than your sister finding out you were in porn. Daisy's only real reaction was a slight straightening in her seat. Her lips tensed to a tight bow as she prepared to defend herself against some hypocritical moralizing.

"Now don't apologize or explain, please. What my employees do on their own time is their own business, even if I think it's stupid and reckless."

"Okay," Daisy said, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"What is my business is when what you do in your private life intersects with your work here. Rick, I understand you admitted a group from this company into the club the other night? Put them in VIP? Gave them a free bottle?"

"Uh, yeah, yeah I did."

"Made a bit of a scene, I understand."

Rick's jaw clenched. It was true, mostly. The place had gone crazy when Paul's girls hit the dance floor. Their dancing was stripper caliber, even if all their clothes managed to stay on. One girl in particular was quite fond of her booty, and took great pleasure in shaking the hell out of it for the crowd. Between all that and the massive clouds of pot smoke billowing away from Table 3, Rick had to admit that they had, in fact, made a scene.

But as far as scenes went, Rick thought this one was pretty tame. One time when Taylor Swift and her entourage had made an appearance, some of them had to be told that cutting lines of coke was not allowed. Or the time a girl, in an attempt to make her boyfriend jealous, sucked a stranger's dick in the middle of the dance floor. Rick had seen all kinds of stuff in the past year of working at Eden, and Paul and his friend's antics hardly rated.

Stevie seemed to disagree.

"Stevie, they were just dancing crazy and smoking some pot. We deal with that shit every night."

"Yes but that night you welcomed it in, gave it one of the better tables and free five hundred dollar bottle service."

"We both know that I have the authority to comp bottles. I do it all the time," Rick said evenly, not liking this at all.

"That's not in dispute. What bothers me... I'm no prude. I can't be, not in this business. But I don't want this club to become the one with the porn stars. Eden has always been about class, exclusivity, style. Your friends... Shorts and flip flops?" Stevie switched to his browser's other tab, showing a local nightlife blog, which had a picture of Paul on the dance floor sandwiched between two girls. "It looks like he got off the back of a double-wide. And then there's how he makes his money. It's crass, and tacky, and I don't want to club associated with it in any way. I'm sorry."

Rick felt his stomach drop. "Sorry for what?"

"I'll have to let you go. I've prepared a sev-"

"What?" Daisy blurted, unable to contain herself anymore. "You're firing us?"

"That's the long and short of it, yes. I'm sorry, but I have to think of my business. Do you know what all the blogs were talking about this weekend? How all the porn stars showed up at Eden. Pretty soon we'll be the place with the hot bartender who's in porn. Then who knows what. Like I said, I don't much care what you guys do with your life, but when it follows you in here I get a say." He pushed two envelopes across the table to them. "I am sorry. I'll give you any kind of reference you want, and I think you'll find the severance is generous."

Rick could sense Daisy's boiling anger and reached over to take her hand before she blew her top. They shared a look: Daisy was angry, upset, but Rick knew her well enough to see that she was also on the verge of tears. She stood suddenly and stomped out of the office. Rick stood slowly and collected the two envelopes.

"Rick, this isn't personal. I'm sorry, but you haven't left me with too much choice here." Rick paused at the door before turning back, his mother's advice ringing loud in his ears: Never burn bridges behind you.

"Thanks for the opportunity, Stevie," Rick said before leaving and closing the door behind him.